
.U7^ 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




013 703 049 4 f 



U ^"b. SANITARY COMMISSION. 
»ro. irz. 



Report of a Preliminary Survey of the Camps of a portion of the 
Volunteer Forces near Washington. 



Washington, July 9, 18G1. 
To THE Sanitary Commission. 

Gentlemen : Your Resident Secretary has inspected twenty 
of the volunteer camps during the last ten days. Of most of 
these his examination has been cursory, his object being to 
acquire some knowledge of the ordinary and average condition 
of the force, to enable him the better to direct subsequent in- 
quiry, rather than to personally make an exact survey of the 
condition of each regiment. Of some few, however, his examina- 
tion has been thorough, while from others he has received reports 
of inspections made under his instructions with a view to obtain 
precise information. Considerable confidence can therefore be 
placed in the general conclusions as to matters of fact, which 
will be expressed. The camps of the Rhode Islanders and of 
the 71st and 12th New York militia have not been visited, be- 
cause it has been understood that their condition was exceptional, 
and no time could be spared from more general duties for the 
purpose. 

The Resident Secretary has also endeavored to make himself 
acquainted with the character of the supplies furnished, and 
with the manner of their distribution. 

Having been accompanied in most of his visits by Dr. Harris, 
the Resident Secretary will omit, as far as practicable, observa- 
tions on the distinctly medical condition of the forces, presuming 
that Dr. Harris, on his return from Fort Monroe, will present 
a report on this topic. 



^r 



£"49/ 



SITUATION AND DRAINAGE. 

The camps, generally, are favorably situated as to natural 
surface drainage. In many cases, not the slightest artificial 
drainage has been arranged ; in others, surface-drains have been 
dug on one or two sides of a tent, or a line of tents, but an out- 
let entirely neglected, and this, sometimes, where an hour's 
labor of a man would have formed one. The drains are conse- 
quently inefiective. A complete system of drains, such as should 
have been laid out and made in the very hour the tents were 
pitched, can scarcely be found in any camp. In consequence of 
this neglect, during a recent sudden heavy rain at night, it is 
reported that water stood two inches deep in the tents of many 
camps. In respect of drainage by filtration, the quality of the 
soil and subsoil varies too much to allow any general statement 
to be made. 

The camps are generally on open ground, but some of them 
in the shade of woods, and the latter seem generally considered 
to be the more fortunate sites. Looking to the health of the 
men, this is unquestionably a grave error, of which evidence 
abounds. It is an advantage, however, to have a shaded place 
for drill near the camp, as is sometimes the case with those on 
the open ground. 

The tents are placed much closer together than they should 
be ; closer than is usual in camps of regulars, unless under 
special circumstances. 

The site of the camps is selected by an officer of the quarter- 
master's department, not by the regimental officers. 

Night-soil has been recently deposited in large quantity within 
a short distance of several of the camps, and between them and 
the town. This has occurred, because the scavengers have been 
unable to pass the lines of sentries at night. Immediately on 
learning this, a note was addressed by the Secretary to the 
mayor of the city, and a communication obtained with the health 
officer, who readily promised that the practice should be avoided. 
The use of cheap disinfectants was recommended to him to be 
applied to the night-soil already deposited near the camps. 



< 



MALARIA. 



5> 

ST Thei'e have been but few cases of intermittent fever found ; 
^ three in one regiment is the largest number ; this camp was 
situated near a pond. 

SUN-STROKE. 

A few cases have occurred in almost every encampment. The 
men are generally provided with " havelocks," which are worn 
or dispensed with according to the caprice of individuals. Even 
at the dress parade in most regiments, each man Avears a have- 
lock or not, at his pleasure. The havelocks, as generally made, 
are of little use. The article worn by the Indian troops, pictures 
of which probably suggested that termed in America the have- 
lock, is quilted and stift", resting on the shoulders, and thus kept 
open, clear of the ears, and allowing a free circulation of air 
beneath. Men who have been drinking freely of water when on 
a march, or at drill, are the most frequent sufferers from sun- 
stroke. 

WATER, 

Water, of good quality, is generally found in abundance near 
each camp. 

TENTS. 

The most common tent is a poor affair, being similar in form 
to the French tent d'abri, but without its advantage of portability. 
The common wall-tent is also largely used, and is much better. 
During the day the walls are triced up, and the tent is well 
ventilated ; but at night, if the walls are lifted, or the flaps 
opened, the drift of the dew-laden wind across the men sleeping 
on the ground is felt to be severely cold. In most cases, there- 
fore — the oflicers paying, apparently, no attention to the mat- 
ter — the tents are closed as tightly as possible at night, and are 
crowded full of sleepers, six to eight and sometimes ten men 
being found in each. Of course they breathe a most vitiated 
atmosphere. Those who are most sensitive to this are sometimes 
forced out of the tent ; and in a camp visited at night, the Sec- 



retary discovered that many men were sleeping on the ground, 
without any protection from dew or malarious influences. This 
had not been regarded, and apparently was unknown to the 
regimental officers. The wall tent, when provided, as it is some- 
times found to be, with large square openings at the end, Avith 
flaps to button over them when necessary, is the most comfort- 
able tent for summer. This, or some other opening for ventila- 
tion, well above the ground, should be provided in all cases. 
The " Sibley" is, however, much the best tent for all purposes, 
and it is to be hoped that it will rapidly displace all others. It 
is easily ventilated, and at the same time supplies the best pro- 
tection to its occupants during inclement weather. 

The men generally sleep on a single blanket spread upon the 
ground. The regiments sent by the New York Union Defence 
Committee, and some few others, are provided with india-rubber 
tent-floors or blankets, and, in some cases, the tents are fur- 
nished with plank floors. These, which would otherwise seem to 
be best for a fixed camp, afl'ord an unfortunate facility for the 
accumulation of unwholesome rubbish. Where there are no 
floors, loose straw" is sometimes used, and in other cases straw in 
sacks. 

SINKS. 

In most cases the only sink is merely a straight trench, some 
thirty feet long unprovided with a pole or rail ; the edges are 
filthy, and the stench exceedingly ofi'ensive ; the easy expedient 
of daily turning fresh earth into the trench being often neglect- 
ed. In one case, men with diarrhoea complained that they 
had been made sick to vomiting by the incomplete arrangement 
and filthy condition of the sink. Often the sink is too near the 
camp. In many regiments the discipline is so lax that the men 
avoid the use of the sinks, and the whole neighborhood is ren- 
dered filthy and pestilential. From the ammoniacal odor fre- 
quently perceptible in some camps, it is obvious that the men are 
allowed to void their urine, during the night, at least, wherever 
convenient. 



PEilSONAL CLEANLINESS. 

Ill but few cases are the soldiers obliged to regard any rules 
of personal cleanliness. Their clothing is shamefully dirty, and 
they are often lousy. Although access is easily had to running 
water, but few instances are known where any part of the force 
is daily marched, as a part of the camp routine, to bathe. A 
careful daily inspection of the state of the men's clothing is 
probably made in few, if any, regiments. Whatever good 
qualities they posses in other respects, so far from being good 
soldiers in this, which has been long held the elementary condi- 
tion of good soldiers, our volunteers are, in many cases, really 
much dirtier than it can be believed they have been accustomed 
to be in their civil life ; and it is obvious that neither they nor 
their officers comprehend in the slightest their duty in this par- 
ticular, nor the danger and inconvenience they are bringing upon 
themselves by its neglect. The clothing of the men from top to 
toe is almost daily saturated with sweat and packed with dust, 
and to all appearance, no attempt is generally made to remove 
this, even superficially. Each man should be provided with a 
switch or small cat with which to whip his clothing, and a brush 
to remove the dust after it has been brought to the surface. It 
is suggested that these and other instruments of cleanliness 
should be provided to the men, as in the French service, and 
that they should be required to carry them and exhibit them at 
inspection, as a part of the Government property for which they 
are responsible. 

CAMP POLICE. 

There is often hardly a pretence of performing the ordinary 
police duties of a military camp. The men take food into their 
tents, and its crumbs and morsels are to be seen covered with 
flies in the inside, in the intervening spaces, and even in the 
camp-streets, which seldom appear well swept. Often the drains 
are so neglected, that they become receptacles for rubbish. 
Within the tents a musty smell is often perceptible. It is sug- 
gested that the Commission should recommend that orders be 
given that during the summer all camps should be shifted at least 



6 

oncc^ in ten clays, unless imperative military reasons forbid, and 
that^twice a week all tents should be struck, turned inside out~ 
and shaken, all bedding and blankets shaken, the site of tents 
swept, and, if practicable, sprinkled with a disinfecting fluid or 
lightly strewn'Avith powdered charcoal or plaster of paris. It is 
believed that some very detailed instructions in camp-police 
duties may with great advantage be furnished the officers. 

CLOTHING. 

The volunteers have generally an abundance of clothing, such 
as it is, though there are a few who have not a change of shirts. 
The dress of the majority is inappropriate, unbecoming, uncom- 
fortable, and not easily kept in a condition consonant with health. 
It is generally much inferior, in every desirable respect, to the 
clothing of the regulars, while it has cost more than theirs. 
Considering all the conditions and contingencies of the business 
in which the volunteers are about to engage, and in view of 
the many advantages of simplifying all the machinery of the 
army as much as possible, it may be best for the Commission to 
recommend that volunteers for ordinary infantry service be 
hereafter required to adopt the regulation uniform. This could 
be furnished by the Government under bonds to those recruiting 
the regiments, or to the State governments called upon or 
undertaking to supply them, at a much less price than, judging 
from recent experience, any other tolerable uniforms can be pro- 
cured by special contract. It may also be best to recommend 
the early substitution of the regulation garments for those now 
worn by the volunteers ; these being already in many instances, in 
bad condition. A New York soldier has been seen going on duty 
in his drawers and overcoat, his body coat and pantaloons being 
quite worn to shreds. It is possible that some modification of the 
present regulation uniform may bemade with advantage. If so, this 
should be in the direction of greater simplicity of parts, greater 
independence of the baggage wagon, and more grace of appear- 
ance. The most conspicuous part of the present uniform is the hat. 
It is said to be convenient and healthful. The common kepi 
of the volunteer is pert, unsubstantial, ungraceful, uncomfort- 



able, and dangerous. Covered with what is called the havelock, 
it is excessively conspicuous — quite unfit for scouting or skirmish- 
ing duty. It interferes with the hearing, and, through the com- 
mon neglect of duty of the volunteer officers, it is allowed to be 
worn without uniformity, and becomes very untidy. The regu- 
lation hat, as it stands, is better than any other military head- 
dress to be now seen in Washington. Yet its heavy and inele- 
gant character might, it is hoped, be somewhat modified without 
lessening its essential value. A slight enlargement of the brim, 
a more tapering form to the crown, and the introduction of some 
color, possibly making the whole hat of a neutral tint, with a 
complementary band or plume, would certainly efi"ect an aesthetic 
improvement. A diff"erent kind of shirt might economically dis- 
place the present one, which is coarse and harsh in quality. The 
regulation shoes and socks are far superior to those generally worn 
by the volunteers, but might perhaps be better. A very slight 
improvement in the quality of these articles would justify a large 
additional cost. The French trappings of the soldier, of the latest 
pattern, seem to be more substantial and convenient than those 
of the United States regular pattern, better calculated to preserve 
health and a certain degree of comfort under circumstances which 
most try the strength and morale of the soldier. If this is the case, 
Government should not for a moment hesitate to adopt them. 
Our volunteers are generally men unaccustomed to the necessary 
hardships of the soldier, suffering from loose discipline, and the 
rashness, improvidence, ignorance, and neglect of extemporized 
officers. They need, therefore, far more than regular soldiers, 
every advantage which it is possible for science and art to offer, for 
bearing about with them, in the easiest possible 'manner, means 
of sustaining their strength, which shall be proof against acci- 
dents and available under the greatest variety of circumstances. 
To simplify what is to be carried as far as possible, and yet to 
make the soldier more than ever independent of fortune, must 
be the purpose of all suggestions for a change. No improve- 
ment is so great as that which lessens the necessary recurrence 
of the soldier to the baggage train and the hospital. Whatever 
does this must almost certainly be economical. 



FOOD. 

De gustibus non disputandu7n. No two reports agree, and 
the Secretary, having given more time to the study of the subject 
than to all others during the last week, confesses himself to bo 
yet bewildered by the dijQferent statements of matters of fact, and 
the different judgments on matters of opinion which he has con- 
stantly encountered. 

Where there is not a most incredible ignorance, incapacity, or 
neglect on the part of the officers, the regiments are supplied 
with an over-abundance of the raw material of food, excellent 
of its kind. 

To all appearance, the Commissary Department is pursuing 
a generous, wise, and liberal course, dispensing with the usual 
forms and checks, anticipating and overlooking the neglect of 
the volunteer officers, and supplying a larger variety of food 
than is usually served to regulars, or than can be drawn for, 
as a right, under the army regulations. This very laxity, how- 
ever, has its disadvantages, and that regiments should sometimes 
meet with considerable hardship from irregularity of supplies is 
a matter of course. It is, indeed, wonderful that such a large 
body of men should be so fully and regularly supplied as is our 
army, and the Commission need hardly concern itself with the 
exceptional instances. It is doubtful if any army of the same 
size ever fared as well as to substantial articles of food, for 
months together. The raw materials furnished are generally 
atrociously cooked and wickedly wasted. In consequence of 
waste, complaint is sometimes made of inadequate supplies, but 
this is remarkably rare, proving that with care the supply would 
in all cases be over-abundant. 

The question remains whether the food is of the best knid that 
could be afforded, and in sufficient variety ? There are grave 
objections to the introduction of almost any new article into the 
dietary of the army ; simplicity, and facility of transport and of 
preservation being necessary conditions not only of each article 
in itself, but of all the ration in the aggregate. To increase the 
number of articles is to increase the duty already heavily over- 
burdening the Subsistence Department, and there are great and 



9 

insurmountable difficulties in enlarging the force of the Subsist- 
ence Department with the rapidity required to provide for all 
the contingencies of the heterogeneous host, with its incapa- 
ble officers, suddenly dependent on that department for the 
sustenance of life. It is a great thing to accomplish the pro- 
visioning of this host with the simplest and most easily procured 
and transported food, by any possible means. It is a still greater 
thing to have this done honestly and thoroughly well, guarding 
against scandalous frauds and great and disgusting wastes. 
Every addition to the dietary of the army increases the difficulty 
of this task. 

This must not be fortrotton in the consideration of the thousand 
and one improvements on the ration which have found and will 
continue to find public advocacy, and some of which are being 
now especially urged on the Commission as worthy of its recom- 
mendation. It is daily made obvious that no intelligent civilian 
deems the present regulation ration a suitable and sufficient one 
for the volunteers, called from the north to the south in the 
heat of summer ; but rash and arbitrary changes might easily be 
made which would be extremely perilous. 

For a well-established force with but a small proportion of 
recruits, and these chiefly accustomed to a poor diet, marching 
or stationed on a distant frontiei, with the advantage of a well- 
regulated sutler's establishment, a well-managed company fund, 
and with the guidance and inspection of officers who understand 
their business, and must attend to it for their own safety's sake, 
if for no better reason, our army ration is excellent. We have 
had a rich government, a small army, and an abundance of edu- 
cated officers, who have patiently studied to effect improvements 
in its administration. In every line, the regulations show careful 
observation and reflection, and the most thorough, honorable, 
and conscientious effort to bring about that which was best for 
our army, in the average circumstances under which it has been 
organized, officered, and placed hitherto. The only criticism 
which can be made against the regulations, general and special, 
seems to the Secretary to be, that in the effort to guard against 
fraud and waste, and to impose restrictions and checks upon 



10 

extravagance, sufficient discretion to vary from the ordinary 
rules, when desirable, has not been had, and habits of routine 
and respect for precedent have been too much expected and 
encouraged. Even this is made with some doubt of there being 
present occasion for it, and the Secretary is inclined to believe 
that little is needed to effect all that is practicable, further than 
to strengthen the hands and give increased confidence to those 
now having the largest responsibilities in this matter. 

Clear, fat, salt pork is the back-bone of the army ration. The 
authorized quantity of beef is larger than that of pork, but beef is 
liable to more contingencies of failure than pork. Fat pork of ex- 
cellent quality, with beans and coffee, seldom fails. And under 
frontier hardships, in contrast to the ordinary diet of the savage, 
or even of the pioneer settler, these furnish not a bad stand-by, 
especially for cold weather. Beans boiled five hours with salt pork 
make a soup or porridge, savory, exceedingly nutritious, and whole- 
some for most men ; add a copious allowance of hot coffee, and 
men in good health coming in wet, cold, and weary from a scout or 
from guard duty, can hardly be supplied with anything better. 
And it is for men in such circumstances that our military offi- 
cers, Avhose soul is in their business, have had to think, first and 
last. Satisfy those who have been used hardest, upon whose 
pluck and cheerfulness and strength the most has depended, and 
there need be little care for the rest. 

But here, in the midst of summer, we have an army of unac- 
climated men, drawn chiefly from dense communities, differing 
among themselves greatly in their habits, but nearly all accus- 
tomed to a large variety of food. 

Fat, salt pork is not proper food for them, and the depart- 
ment has provided the alternative, beef, generally of the most ex- 
cellent quality, in abundant quantity. If the men have too much 
salt food here at present, it is the fault of their regimental officers. 
But as the army moves southward, will it not often happen that, 
owing to accidental causes, one or the other of these articles, beef 
or salt pork, will fail ? If so, then, as far as meat is concerned, 
the diet must be either exclusively of pork or exclusively of beef. 
It is worth while to consider whether arrangements cannot be 



n 

immediately made for a large supply of fresh mutton. Could 
not, at least, desiccated mutton as well as desiccated beef, and 
desiccated beef soup, be procured in a short time in large quan- 
tities? If so, no time should be lost in establishing this guard 
against the danger of failure of better provisions. 

As to vegetables, there is not probably a single surgeon 
attached to a volunteer regiment in the vicinity of Washington, 
who will not testify that the troops are now suifering in health 
fur a want of vegetables. And whatever may be the character of 
some of the volunteer surgeons, there are, among them, gentle- 
men of as high professional reputation as any in the army. 
Directly or indirectly, the prevailing diarrhoea is, in almost 
every case, attributed to this cause. A case of scurvy in the 
troops about Washington is already reported.* The volunteer 
army is generally believed to be in great danger of decimation 
by scurvy and dysentery. It must be admitted that there is 
great difficulty in procuring and transporting a large daily sup- 
ply of green vegetables in good order, and in serving them out sys- 
tematically for eighty thousand men. It appears to have been 
not possible, up to this time, to obtain even the necessary local 
means of transport for this purpose. Are these difficulties to in- 
crease as the army is moved into the southern wilderness? 
In any case this seems really the most important point in which 
it is possible for the energy and enterprise and capital of the 
Government to be directed for the protection of the army. 

A liberal alloAvance of fresh potatoes, when these can be pro- 
cured, and, at all events, of desiccated potatoes, mixed vege- 
tables, and dried fruits, which can be supplied with as much cer- 
tainty as pork, Avould add vastly to the cheerfulness of the army, 
and thus to its strength and health, even if it were not certain to do 
so more directly. These articles should be issued hy regulation, 
and not according to the judgment or caprice of the commanders 
or quartermasters. It appears to the Secretary that the addi- 
tion of pepper to the ration is practicable and desirable. The 
practicability of adding butter is less certain, but it is believed that 



* A number arc reported at the Wcbt. 



12 

under most circumstances for this army, there is no difficulty of 
consequence in the way of it, except the general difficulty of com- 
plicating and increasing the excessive duty of the subsistence 
department. 

COMPANY FUND. 

The " company fund" arrangement of the regulars scarcely 
exists, except where by chance some vigorous old army officer is 
in charge, and is not to be expected to ansAver any good pur- 
pose during the summer Avith the volunteers. It is useless, 
therefore, to point to it as a practicable means of supplj'ing their 
wants. 

SUTLERS. 

Some of the camps have sutlers ; most have not. At one of 
the sutler's tents, contrary to the articles of war as well as the 
army regulations, spirits were furnished the men without restric- 
tion. This regiment being composed in large part of Continen- 
tal Europeans, it was alleged that no harm had resulted, there 
being but little drunkenness, and but little use of the guard- 
house. This is also asserted with reference to all the German 
regiments, at one of which a considerable number of men were 
found sitting at a long table, under a bower which they had 
themselves constructed, drinking lager beer, and singing. The 
convivial recreation thus afforded the men was deemed by the 
commanding officer and by the surgeon to have a favorable effect 
on the health of the regiment, in which there was found less 
diarrhoea than at any other examined. Beer is supplied to all 
the Germans by sutlers, who dispose of it for a claim on the 
wages of the men at pay-day, as usual with sutlers. Though 
much less than in most armies, there is a good deal of drunk- 
enness among the soldiers, who are generally granted leave of 
absence to visit the town in much too large numbers, for too 
long a time, and too frequently. It is suggested that the Com- 
mission apply to headquarters for an order to prevent leave of 
absence from camp being granted except to a limited number 
of any regiment at a time, and only within certain hours of 
the day. A further act of the military government, to close 



13 

the dram-shops and bars during the hours alloweil for soldiers to 
be out of their camps, and requiring the police guard of the city 
to take all soldiers without a pass or not accompanied by an offi- 
cer to the guard-bouse, would unquestionably have a most favor- 
able influence on the health of the army of Washington. 

For the soldiers m camp, a proper enforcement of the army 
regulations, and a proper use of the discretion allowed the sur- 
geons, will supply to the men all the spirits, and all the restric- 
tions upon the use of spirits, which it is best they should have. 
Whether a moderate quantity of malt liquor might not with ad- 
vantage be added to the ration is possibly a question worthy of 
consideration by the Commission. In the few cases where it has 
been found to be habitually used, the testimony of the regimen- 
tal surgeons is, so far as it goes, conclusive, as to its wholesome 
influence. (See statement of Professor Hamilton, at the end of 
this Report.) 

A complaint of excessive thirst is frequently heard. A num- 
ber of men have stated that they drank six times as much water 
as they ever did before. "Too much meat," or rather a want 
of sufficient vegetables, is probably the chief reason of this. 
" Too much coff'ee" is another common complaint, meaning, evi- 
dently, that too much is expected of coffee, or that, without 
drinking more coffee than is thought to be wholesome, the appe- 
tite at breakfast is not satisfied. 

It is a custom to drill the men in most regiments for two 
hours immediately after the break of day, and before they have 
had any nourishment. Many sufter much inconvenience from 
this. Must it not necessarily be harmful in a region at all sub- 
ject to malarious influences ? 

CAMP COOKINa. 

Mr. Sanderson's report on camp cooking will be presented to 
the Commission, and the Secretary refrains from any observations 
at present on this most important subject. It is enough to say, 
that in no respect are the volunteers in so much need of instruc- 
tion, advice, orders, and assistance, as in this. Perhaps the 



14 

best way of meeting the difficulty would be at once to endeavor 
to obtain the services of sea-cooks from shipping ports, and attach 
them, one to a company, throughout the army. 

The report of Dr. Harris will leave it unnecessary for the 
Resident Secretary to place his observations on camp and general 
hospitals at this time before the Commission. The subject of 
hospital supplies will need immediate attention, and when it 
comes up, he has certain measures to propose. 

The Secretary must say, in conclusion, that he is compelled 
to believe that it is now hardly possible to place the volunteer 
army in a good defensive condition against the pestilential influ- 
ences by which it must soon be surrounded. No general orders 
calculated to strengthen the guard against their approach can 
be immediately enforced with the necessary rigor. The captains, 
especially, have in general not the faintest comprehension of 
their proper responsibility ; and if they could be made to under- 
stand, they could not be made to perform the part which prop- 
erly belongs to them in any purely military effort to this end. 
To somewhat mitigate the result is all that the Commission can 
hope to do. If the Commission and its agents could be at once 
clothed with some administrative powers, as well as exercise ad- 
visory functions, far more could be done than will otherwise be 
the case. To say, " you had better do so and so," Avill, nine 
times out of ten, accomplish nothing ; to report a filthy sink, or 
a lazy captain, or roguish sutler, to headquarters, while grand 
movements are pending, and efficient leaders are scarce, and the 
value of their minutes is as the value of years with most men, 
will accomplish nothing. If it were possible, without interfering 
with discipline, for the Commission and its agents to have a claim 
upon the commander of a camp for the means at his disposal for 
abating a nuisance within it, much could be done. This may be 
thought too large a power of interference to grant to civilians. 
But it must not be forgotten that the volunteers are mainly offi- 
cered by men who a few weeks ago were civilians, and who, in 
their eagerness to learn "tactics," have hardly yet given any 



15 

study to other duties. At least there shouhl be the right to 
require, where the advice of the Commission is disregarded for 
military reasons, that those reasons should be given in writing 
by the commanding officer to his military superior. 

Looking still to preventive measures, and neglecting in this 
report the whole question of the treatment of the sick and 
wounded, the Secretary must ask how is advice to be given so 
as to be at all effective ? Much may be done by the distribu- 
tion of manuals, by the reiteration of standing orders, and by 
giving more detailed and elementary instructions than are 
afforded in the army regulations ; but it is believed that the mass 
of the volunteer officers cannot be reached by such means. 

The Resident Secretary, in order to be able to report the 
condition of the volunteer forces in this vicinity and at Fort 
Monroe with more exactness, to the Commission, at this session, 
has, within a few days, accepted the voluntary services of two 
competent persons, who have undertaken to visit camps, and, 
under his instructions, to examine their condition with all prac- 
ticable thoroughness. The printed questions of the Commission's 
Document, No. 8, have furnished the basis of inquiry. Some- 
thing has been added by the Secretary to these, and each in- 
spector is instructed to exercise his judgment in going further, 
but is especially enjoined to examine with his own eyes, 
and by smelling and tasting, whatever requires it. The value 
of such an investigation, in furnishing information for the Cora- 
mission to act upon, can best be learned by a perusal of some 
of the reports made by the inspectors. But the Secretary is 
inclined to believe that the greatest value will soon consist, if it 
does not already, in the fact, that while aiding the inspector, 
the attention of the regimental officers is for the first time 
gravely and specifically called to the sources of danger which 
they have allowed to be established in their camps, and which 
they cannot account for without acknowledging a neglect of their 
own, and to the information and suggestions for improvement 
which they will incidentally receive from the inspector. Thus 
far, the utmost Avillingness to exhibit the actual condition of their 
camp has been asserted, and, apparently, in good faith, by all 



IG 

oflScers called upon. The Secretary is at present of the opinion 
that more is to be effected in the way of prevention by this agency 
than by any other means at the immediate command of the Com- 
mission. The business of such inspectors, if many should be 
employed, will need to be carefully systematized ; they must be 
thoroughly instructed, and should be provided with printed advice 
upon various subjects of camp life and military duty, to be fur- 
nished as occasion may offer to officers of different grades, to 
cooks, and to privates. Thus presenting themselves to make 
official inquiry only, they will, without special effort or intention, 
really be the best possible missionaries of sanitary science to the 
army. If there should be 300,000 men in the field — and it is 
thought that each regiment should be visited at least once a 
week, on an average — twenty men of special qualifications for 
the duty would probably be needed as traveling inspectors. 
The two last reports of the inspector who has been engaged in 
this vicinity, together with one from the inspector at Fort Mon- 
roe, are laid before the Commission, that the character of this 
service may be the better understood. 



APPENDIX. 



July 9, 1861. 



Regiment, 1040 strong. Colonel 
In camp three weeJcs. 



*1. Tlie site of the camp * * * *. The ground high, 
cleared, with a neighboring shade of oaks, and of excellent natural 
drainage. The soil is of a compact clay, with a thin surface of arable 
land. There are no swamps or marshes in the neighborhood, but there 
is a creek which flows through the ravine, which divides the surround- 
ing hills. 

2. Its proximity to Washington and it.s salubrity were the probable 
motives of the choice of site. 

6, 7. It was reported by the surgeon that a thorough inspection had 
been made on enlistment, and that seventy -five had been rejected. 
No order had been received for re-inspection. 

12. There is one surgeon and one assistant, father and son, who 
were appointed by the colonel, and have not been examined by any 
medical board. The * * * informed me that the former had been 
a barber in * * * , and an occasional cupper and leecher, and 
had no medical degree. The son's medical education was also doubted. 
Both had evidently failed to obtain the full confidence of the regiment. 
On examining the file of prescriptions at the hospital, I discovered 
that they were rudely written, and indicated a treatment, as they con- 
sisted chiefly of tartar emetic, ipecacuanha, and epsom salts, hardly 
favorable to the cure of the prevailing diarrhoea and dysenteries. 

While remaining to dine in camp, the regiment returned from the 
city, whither they had been marched to receive at the arsenal a supply 
of new muskets. Sometime after, a messenger came in declaring that 
many of the men had been left on the roadside where they had fallen 
exhausted with the heat and fatigue. Great excitement ensued in 
camp, and complaints were uttered against the colonel for having 
marched his men during the heat of the day, when the march might 
have been postponed, as its motive was not pressing, until the evening. 
The chief surgeon, who had remained in camp, started out to find the 
men who had been left behind. I followed soon after, and had not 
proceeded very far on the road when I met him returning to camp 
with his son, who had accompanied the regiment on its march. The 

* These numbers refer to the printed questions of the Sanitary Commission, 



18 

latter, on being introduced to me by bis father, said that tbere was 
nothing the matter with the men he had left behind him on the road- 
side but a little fatigue. I expostulated with him upon abandoning 
his men, and urged him, for his own sake, to return. He followed my 
advice, and on reaching the ground we found some forty men lyiog 
near the road. All were evidently greatly fatigued, and some half 
dozen were suffering from sun-stroke. With some whiskey and iced 
water, with which we had provided ourselves, we soon succeeded in 
reanimating the sick, and refreshing the rest. The chief surgeon, in 
the meantime, came back with a homeopathic medicine box, and be- 
gan administering homeopathic doses promiscuously to the sick and 
well. 

The two surgeons, father and son, are both (xermans. The former 
can hardly understand a word of English, and must have great difficulty 
in making himself understood to many members of the regiment, one- 
half of whom are either Irish or Americans. 

There seems some reason to doubt the competency of the surgeons 
of this regiment. I confess, however, that there was nothing found in 
the condition of the men decidedly to prove improper treatment. The 
number of sick was not large in comparison with that of other regi- 
ments. Six had been sent to the hospital at Washington ; nine 
remained in the camp hospital ; 60 or 70 were off duty in consequence 
of various ailments, and there had been no death in camp. 

The general manner and conversation of the two surgeons were such 
as to make me distrustful of their intelligence and acquirements. My 
suspicion of their incompetency, however, is due chielly to the infor- 
mation of * * * * * *, who earnestly urged me to 
report what he stated. He was, however, unwilling that his name 
should be used, unless he should be guaranteed against all consequences 
likely to affect his position. 

13. No provision for transporting the sick and wounded, save a 
single field-stretcher. 

14. A supply of medicines from the United States Government, 
but complained of by the surgeon as not being of the right sort. There 
was some doubt expressed by one of the officers of the regiment, as 
to whether the surgeon was supplied with all the requisite surgical 
instruments. The latter, however, declared that he was fully provided 
at his own expense. 

16. The common or A tents in use, with six and often seven occu- 
pants to each. They were arranged too closely together, being not 
more than a foot apart. Many of them had bowers of dried bushes 
in front as a protection against the heat of the sun. This, however, 
appeared to intercept the air, and to be unfavorable to proper clean- 
liness and ventilation. All were trenched, and some floored. 

17. Privies at a good distance, properly constructed, and not offen- 
sive to those in camp. On inspection, however, it was discovered that 
the earth was not thrown in regularly, and no disinfectants used. 

18. The hospital was provided with a sink especially for its patients. 



19 

The men are said to bathe about once a week, but under no system- 
atic arrangement. Many are unprovided with a change of under- 
clothing. There was, however, a good provision for washing, in 
respect to laundresses, there being several women to each company. I 
saw more women in and about this camp than I have seen in all the 
others together. The colonel had his wife, one lieutenant his, many 
of the soldiers theirs, &c. 

19. No re-vaccination. n 

20. No varioloid or smallpox. 

22. Parasites said to be rare. 

23. No deaths. 

24. No systematic amusements. 

25. No deodorizers or disinfectants used. 

26. Army rations. Complaint made of the frequency of salt pork, it 
being served sometimes four days in succession. 

27. No fresh vegetables supplied by the government, or by the men 
at their own expense. 

28. No dried fruits. 

29. Fresh meat two or three times a week. • 

30. Water from springs ; good. 

31. Hospital stores abundant 3 but utensils wanted, bed pans and 
cooking vessels. 

32. No spirit ration ever issued. The sutler, however, sells spirits 
and lager-beer ad lihitum. The * * * of the regiment informed 
me that drunkenness was so prevalent that 25 or 30 men were sent 
daily to the guardhouse in consequence. 

33. Two cooks to each company appointed by the captain. 

34. The apparatus for cooking is a simple shallow trench, or two 
lines of brick. No lids to the cooking utensils, not even to the coffee- 
boilers. 

35. Good bread from the city, but eaten '' fresh, and often hot." 
Complaint of occasional meagre supply. 

36. Uniform good, but too warm for the season. Each man had 
been supplied by the United States Government with a single pair of 
linen trousers. 

37. Flannel underclothing worn, but often without change. 

39. No india-rubber cloths. The men lie either on straw, hay, or 
bare ground. 

40. The horses picketed at a good distance outside of the camp, and 
the manure removed. 

43. The tents drained by means of deep trenches. 

ROBERT TOMES. 



20 



July b, 1861, 

**th Reijiment of * * * , 69U men ; Col. * * * ; 

25 day)> in camp. 

» 
Site upon a high hill. . 

1. Drainage from inclination of surface, good ; subsoil clayey. Ex- 
posed to the influences of a creek and dam, but no bad effects observed. 

2. Selected for salubrity and military convenience. 

6. No examination before enlistment. Partial inspection since, ac- 
cording to general order, and eighteen rejected, among whom was a 
man in an advanced state of pulmonary consumption. 

11. The most perfect hospital organization yet observed — provided 
with a steward and two matrons, where female tenderness and care were 
evident in the kindly treatment and good order of the patients. 

12. A surgeon and assistant surgeon, appointed in the usual way of 
the volunteers, through influence of colonel, and subsequently confirmed 
by a medical board. 

13. One ambulance supplied by =*= * -1= * * * 
* * , and one horse-litter by the Government. The latter badly 
constructed, and pronounced by the surgeon to be useless. It is made 
for two horses, with a shaft in front and one behind. The irregular 
action of the animals and their necessary restlessness would appear to 
justify the surgeon's condemnation, 

14. A deficiency of surgical instruments, there being but one ampu- 
tating case and one pocket case for the two surgeons, supplied by the 
United States Government, 

15. No sun-stroke and no endemic disease, 

16. Common tents, mostly floored. Eight occupants to each, 

17. Trenches dug for privies, but no cross-bars for support ; very 
offensive ; no earth thrown in, and much too near camp. No disinfec- 
tants used. 

18. Frequent bathing, but infrequent washing of underclothes. 

19. Vaccination in progress. I saw the surgeon thus employed. 

20. One case of small-pox sent to eruptive hospital of Washington. 

21. Thirty-eight cases of measles. Mild, and no serious sequalse 
observed. 

22. Some cases of diarrhoea and dysentery. Body lice on some of 
the men. Tincture of larkspur used, but found ineffectual ; probably 
of bad quality. 

23. One death from drowning. 

24. No systematic amusements, but men cheerful. 

25. No disinfectants used, and not demanded by the surgeon, on the 
score that the bulk required would impede marching. 

26. Ordinary army rations. No complaint of quality and quantity. 

27. .No vegetables, except those supplied by the men at their own 
expense. I saw cabbage and potatoes in use, here and there. 



21 

27. b. The sui-geoa has uo auti-seorbutics, but would wish to have 
them, as he attributes the diarrhoeas and dysenteries to scorbutic in- 
fluences. 

28. No dried fruits. 

29. Fresh meat three or tour times a week. 

30. Water good, from springs. 

31. Medicines and hospital stores good. 

32. No spirit ration issued, and the sutler discharged for selling 
liquor. 

33. 34. In the cooking department all is rude. A good captain 
has, however, made an attempt towards improvement. He has pro- 
vided his company with an ordinary house cooking-stove, but he makes 
the mistake of changing his cooks, who are selected from among the 
men. This company, however, is comparatively much better oft' than 
any of the others, and by its saving of rations and acquired handiness 
was enabled to provide a banquet on the Fourth of July, at the expense 
of the members, to which the whole regiment was invited. This com- 
pany's btreet and tents gave evidence, by extreme cleanliness and 
well-ordered condition, of the excellent superintendence of the captain, 
to whose high character the surgeon bore strong testimony. The culi- 
nary utensils being without covers, were complained of by the cooks. 
Three cooks to each company. 

35. Bread good, and from the city. 

36. Uniform worthless. 

37. Good and abundant underclothing. 

38. Shoes good. 

39. Blankets and overcoats bad. No india-rubber cloths. 

42. Refuse food sold. 

43. Tents surrounded with trenches. 

ROBERT TOMES. 



**ik Regiment * * * ; 787 strong ; Colonel * * * 

1. The situation of the camp is upon a fine plain, intersected by 
occasional ravines, terminating in salt meadows and sea-shore. The 
natural drainage excellent. The camp is perhaps one-fourth of a mile 
from the beach, and between it and the water there is a comfortable 
house, which afi'ords good hospital accommodations, and quarters for 
quartermaster and chaplain. 

2. Both military and sanitary considerations seem to have been well 
answered in the selection. 

7. The regiment arrived here with 851 — the present number, 787. 
No order has been received from headquarters for a re- examina- 
tion. The number of men sent home for physical disability is thirteen. 

10. No orders have been received in reference to sanitary condition 
of the men. 



22 

11. A regimental hospital has been organized, with a steward and 
one nurse permanently detailed. The appearance of the rooms and 
patients do not indicate an energetic administration. The men lie on 
mattresses upon the floor, with no linen, no sheets, or pillow-cases. 
They lie in the same clothing, even under-garments, with which they 
left New York. I believe there is no substitution of hospital comforts 
for the usual rations. Fortunately, the number of regular hospital in- 
mates is small. 

12. One surgeon and an assistant are attached to the regiment, who 
were appointed by a Medical Commission at Albany. 

13. The regiment has only one ambulance — an excellent one — and 
one field stretcher, besides those attached to the ambulance. 

14. A medicine chest and a hospital case were furnished by the State 
of New York. A surgical knapsack is needed, as are many other im- 
portant appliances. 

16. The encampment is perfectly free from any unpleasant odor. 
The cooking places are neat, and no garbage is seen. Surface drains 
have been cut in every direction necessary to remove all surface water, 
except in one or two places, which were to-day being attended to. The 
tents are all floored, and the boards are kept clean, while the clothing, 
knapsacks, arms, &c., are arranged so as to present an appearance of 
tidiness and comfort. The officers are supplied with a tent called the 
" Crimean." Eight wedge tents, three " Sibley," and one " Crimean," 
are the supply for a company. Ten men occupy one of the wedge tents, 
and are undoubtedly too crowded. There is no order as to the clos- 
ing of tents at night. They are closed or not according to the incli- 
nations of the men. They sometimes sleep on the ground. The ofl&- 
cers seem quite awake to the necessity of camp police. 

17. The sinks for officers and men are formed at such a distance from 
camp as to be unobjectionable. The one belonging to officers seems to 
have been properly attended to by a fresh layer of soil daily thrown upon 
the surface. The one for men has been prepared with reference to such 
case, but seems not to have been quite properly attended to. How- 
ever, the order was promptly given in my presence to secure the 
requisite attention. The men are strictly confined to the use of the 
sinks. A sink for garbage is also prepared and used. 

18. There is excellent bathing upon the beach, which the men gen- 
erally are inclined to enjoy; but the adjutant informed me that as all 
are not so, the acting colonel has issued orders to form the companies 
into squads for the purpose, so that each man will be compelled to wash 
at least twice a week. The men look bright and well, and seem to be 
in excellent health and spirits. 

19. The men have all been re-vaccinated. 

20. There has been no varioloid or smallpox. 

21. There have been three cases of measles 

22. There have been no cases of intermittent fever. The men have 
been somewhat troubled with vermin. 

23. There have been seven deaths, all either in battle or from 
wounds. 



23 

24. No attention seems to have been given to providing amusements 
for the men. Before the weather became so warm they sometimes 
played at " foot ball." 

25. No disinfectants have been used or found necessary. 

26. The regular army ration is received from the quartermaster of 
the post, and is of excellent quality. 

27. Fresh vegetables have not been supplied to any amount. They 
cannot at present be obtained in this vicinity. No case of scurvy has 
occurred. The system of the company fund has not been carried 
out, except in a few cases. Some of the companies live well, and 
always have plenty, while others are always in want. It is not un- 
common for a company to be entirely out of certain articles a day or 
two, at the end of the ten days for which the rations are issued. 
Others have a plentiful supply. The reason of the difference is in the 
varying skill of those who have charge of the cooking and the admin- 
istration of the stores after they reach the company. The captains are, 
it is believed, mainly in fault, either from want of ability or from indo- 
lence ; although it is easy to perceive that one faithful and industrious 
officer may not be able to prevent the effect of a want of those qualities 
among those under him. I wish still to pursue this line of investiga- 
tion, both in this and other regiments. One thing seems pretty cer- 
tain in this case, there is no want of promptness or faithfulness in the 
quartermaster's department, and no deficiency in the quantity or quality 
of the food furnished. There have been no extra issues of anti-scor- 
butics. 

28. Dried fruits have not been issued. 

29. Fresh meat is supplied three times in ten days. 

30. The water is quite good, but not entirely free from qualities in- 
jurious or disturbing when taken in large quantities. 

32. No spirit ration is issued. 

33. The cooks are sometimes hired by the companies ; in other cases 
they are detailed from the ranks. 

34. The apparatus used for cooking is the open fire beneath ket- 
tles suspended by hooks from an iron bar. 

35. The soft bread, which is excellent, is supplied every other day 
from the post bakery. 

36. The men were supplied with one suit of clothing from the State 
of New York, but with no change of underclothing. 

37. The regiment has never been supplied with a change of under- 
clothing. Not only in the case of this regiment but of all in the 
neighborhood, the want of underclothing is likely to be productive of 
great suffering and loss of efficiency. 

38. This regiment is well supplied with overcoats, blankets, and 
rubber blankets. 

39. The average age of the men is about twenty-five years. There 
are but few over thirty, and only two less than nineteen. 

I have ascertainel that the men of this regiment have not yet been 
paid for their services from the time they were accepted by the State 



i»4 

of New Vork until they were inusterud into the service (if the Uuited 
States This is a great shame aud hardship, as they have yet received 
no wages from Government, and many (tf tbem have no means with 
which to procure any comforts at their own expense. 

The chaplain and other officers are receiving great numbers of let- 
ters from friends of men in the ranks enquiring about them, and from 
many others on the business of the writers, all of which, though pre- 
paid, require stamps upon the answers. These gentlemen not receiving 
their pay from the State or the Government are having their pockets 
drained of their scanty supply of money in this thoughtless manner. 

The " havelocks" seem to be of little use; they are soon laid aside. 
A supply of white cotton gloves is desirable, to protect the musket 
from rust, from being handled with moist hands. 

But of all the sufferings of our brave volunteers, the one most ter- 
rible seems to me that of being confined in hospital with the same 
filthy clothing that they have worn through all their hot marches, 
rolled in the blankets that have served them since their enrolment 

The poor fellows of * * * * have not had even blankets 
since June 1st. About 400 blankets are wanted there. 

E. J. DUNNING. 



Memorandum of Professor F. H. Hamilton, Surgeon of 31s^ Regi- 
ment, N. Y. S. V. 

We have about 850 men. Two companies are composed mostly of 
Germans, men accustomed to out-door work ; three quarters of the 
remainder were out-door laborers. We are situated on Park Heights, 
with an abundance of pure wa'.er and of air. No malaria. Since we 
encamped at this place, a period of about ten days, we have had no 
vegetables, except once or twice a few onions. The meats have been 
excellent, but generally salt. We have now a daily report of about 
fifty cases of diarrhoea and dysentery, which are steadily increasing. The 
camp is perfectly clean, and the latrines are covered daily. We have 
no drills between 9 or 10 o'clock a. m. aud 5 p. m. The Germans 
who drink " lager" furnish the fewest cases of diarrhoea. Indeed, 
those who can get lager are seldom reported, I allow one quarter cask 
of lager to every 24 men per day. The men subscribe for it under 
directions of the captains. The Germans are accustomed to drink much 
more per day, but this answers the medicinal purpose which I have in 
view. It regulates the bowels, prevents constipation, and becomes in 
this way a valuable substitute for vegetables. I encourage all the men 
to take it moderately, but most of them have no money to pay for it. 

Whiskey, brandy, and the wines, unless I except clarets, vin ordi- 
naire, &c., are, I think, pernicious. 

FRANK H. HAMILTON, 

Surgeon 31s< Reg., N. Y. S. F. 



]Vo. I'T 



SANITARY COMMISSION. 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

II 



a 013 703 049 4i 



